Goff E. Joyner

J Joyner, Goff E. , 91 Born December 1, 1920 in Big Cabin, OK as a twin to Ross Joyner of Omaha, NE. He was the son of Jonathon Porter Joyner and Carrie Lorena Davis, and the survivor of four brothers and two sisters. In 1929, the family lost their farm in the Dust Bowl and moved to Kansas. He became a door-to-door salesman selling sewing machines for Sears. While on the clock, he met his beautiful wife, Wilma Lucille Mabie. They married on February 17, 1951. Goff received his orders to report to active duty in the Korean War on February 18, 1951. He served as a Captain in the Marine Corps as an Artillery and Naval Gunfire Officer in the First Marine Division. Goff and Wilma moved to Des Moines, Iowa where they adopted two twin girls, Barb and Deb. Eleven days later, they adopted their son, Bruce. Their naturally born child, Linda, came eight years later. The family moved to Urbandale, IA where Goff was a Store Manager for Sears for 32 years. As a resident of Urbandale, he served as President for a number of different civic organizations such as Rotary Club, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and Toastmasters. In 1972, he was voted Urbandale Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year. Now known nationwide, he founded the Urbandale Chapter of Dollars for Scholars. There are now 110 chapters in Iowa. In 2007, Dollars for Scholars Des Moines chapter offered more than $3 million to more than 5,000 Iowa students. In 1981, Goff and Wilma retired to Bradenton, FL where hobbies included boating, fishing and enjoying life with friends. Goff and Wilma's most recent move brought them to Regency Oaks in Clearwater, FL. There, he became a member of The Write Stuff, a local writing group, and joined other organizations. In his mid to late 80s, Goff became an author and published his first book, War and Love Letters. Other books that followed were Mary's Garden of Poems, and Deliverance of the Huguenots.

He peacefully left us on the morning of December 28, 2011 at Bay Pines VA Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Wilma Joyner, his daughters Deb Sherman and Linda Johns, their spouses Al Sherman and Jeff Johns, and his grandchildren Rickie Miller, Brittany Sherman, Lyndsey Johns and Daniel Johns.

A memorial service for Goff will be held at the Town Hall at Regency Oaks in Clearwater, FL Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 11a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to your local Department of Veteran's Affairs or Dollars for Scholars.
Donations to Bay Pines VA can be made at: www.baypines.va.gov/baypines/giving/donate.asp
Donations to Dollars for Scholars can be made at: http://ia.dollarsforscholars.org/donate.php